Customer Reviews

Cooking from Quilt Country : Hearty Recipes from Amish and Mennonite Kitchens

5 star:		(34)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Unique and marvelous, this is a cookbook I enjoyed reading from cover to cover, with recipes I had never seen before, and as Ms. Adams explains in her excellent introduction, that because the Amish and Mennonites have kept themselves outside of mainstream society, "their folkways, language, and eating habits have changed very little in hundreds of years".
The layout for the recipes is not in a category format, but thematically and by seasons: 1. "The Greening of Indiana". 2. "Summer Days". 3. "Shades of Autumn". 4. "Winter's Rest"; as an example, though there are many superb, hearty recipes in "The Soup Pot", which is part of the final winter section, the tasty Asparagus Soup is part of "The Earth Stirs" in the first spring section.

Each chapter starts with some history, as in "The Barn Raising" in the summer section, which describes this terrific community tradition (those who have seen the Harrison Ford film "Witness" will remember the barn raising scene), where the women prepare a noon meal for a hundred or more men, and arrange it on long tables...and how these meals are "still prepared in kitchens without electricity" (pg. 65).
There is a chapter on Thanksgiving, with the traditional Amish-Mennonite menu. It would be interesting for someone with a large family to prepare this from the Apple Salad to the Mincemeat and Custard Cornbread.

The paper quality is good, with a semi-matte finish, and the photographs by Alexandra Avakian capture the atmosphere and beauty of the rural locations, the houses, the creative and colorful quilts, and the people; the children are exquisite, and look so healthy.
This book represents a wonderful piece of Americana and a basic part of our heritage; it is lovely to look at, a pleasure to read, and full of wholesome, nutritious and delicious recipes to treasure for generations.

This is a delightful book that offers interesting glimpses of the Amish lifestyle and preserves some wonderful recipes. I greatly enjoy the photos and anecdotes in this book, as well as the terrific recipes.

I make the Hot Water Pie Crust in nine-crust batches and freeze it (it freezes perfectly). It is the easiest pie crust recipe I've ever used and tastes just like Grandma's. We don't have pie often, due to its fat content, but when we do, this crust never fails.

The oven-fried chicken recipe is also a winner. Again, it has a lot of fat, but it's great for special occasions and company dinners.

Kudos to Marcia for ensuring that these treasured recipes aren't lost, and for providing a peek at a unique way of life.

If you like learning about the Amish and finding out how they live and eat,this is the book for you.This book is full of great receipes and a story to go with them. There are lots of beautiful pictures and stories telling you about Amish life. I recomend this book to anyone interested in cooking and learning about the simple life of the Amish.

This book and "New Recipes from Amish Country" are, without a doubt, my most used, most read and most worn cookbooks in my library. These cookbooks are not only wonderful for their recipes, but also for just curling up on the couch with a cup of coffee to browse through. The pictures and stories are wonderful. Marcia Adams is one of my favorite cookbook authors on the market today. She knows what she's writing about and her books are incredibly enjoyable to go through, not to mention educational.

My favorite recipes out of Cooking from Quilt Country - Whole Wheat Bread (wonderfully easy and very delicious), Cinnamon Rolls (great icing!) and Potato Pancakes (I still haven't found a recipe that can match the flavor of this one)

I own several hundred cookbooks, and this is the best, hands-down. Everything I make from this book is best in class. I have served the best apple pie, the best fried chicken, the best blueberry streusel cake, the best pumpkin pie of my life-- right from this book. This is the book I give at Christmas, and it's very, very often the book I am making photocopies of for friends who "want my recipe." Nothing fancy here-- this is cooking from the heartland... few spices outside of salt and pepper and very normal ingredients onhand. Only one rule... find the best and freshest produce you can-- that's what makes these recipes sing.

I have made of the recipes in this book. They are wonderful and easy to make. This is the only cookbook I have used on a consistent basis. One of my favorites is the corn bread which forms a custard on top. If I need to make something for a potluck I turn to the Amish half a pound cake. What could be easier that to put all the ingredients in a bowl and mix; and then place the cake in an oven that has not been preheated and bake. It is a wonderful cake. This book is not for someone who is watching their calories or their carbohydrates. But, it is for someone who wants to enjoy good wholesome food. Be sure to try the Amish Apple Pie - it is to die for.

What can I say I'm perpetually busy with three small boys and cooking always seems to allude me culminating in constant eating out.

I have several cookbooks, either the kids won't eat the recipes I make, they taste awful, or it's to expensive with all the ingredients.

This book is an absolute jem for the mother who needs to be able to fix a simple meal, quickly, and without all the ingredient fuss. Most of the recipes in here call for flour, butter, oil, lard, sugar. You know your basic staples.

My kids love these recipes. The apples I made in brown sugar, fantastic. Tastes just like Cracker Barrels. I also like the fact that when your cooking this way the preservatives are at a absolute minimum, which is great.

For those of you who commented on how healthy this book is please look into your history books or pictures of your grandparents. You can't find the fat person. I've been to several countries and America is by far the fattest. The other countries all lacked skim milk, low fat this, fat free this, and corn syrup in everything.

I am by the way overweight and haven't gained a pound from this book. Moderation my dear. I've actually lost weight. Great book, I highly recommend.

There are dozens of recipes I want to try. I tried the custard cornbread and there will be no going back---this is my new favorite cornbread recipe. And I had an excellent recipe which was often requested, but this is head and shoulders above it! And what a beautiful book! The photos are superlative. Wonderful for both reading and cooking.

I bought this book about 8 years ago, and I use it all the time. My friends and family love the cucumber salad, the blueberry upside down cake, the celery seed dressing, which mixes up well with one of those hand held blenders. It's absolutely one of my favorite cookbooks!

I just love all of Marcia Adams' cookbooks, especially this one. The recipe for Sausage Gravy to put over biscuits is spectacular. My husband says it is better than any he's had in restaurants. We also love the oven baked Amish Fried chicken--a real winner. People always ask for the recipe after they've tried it. There is also a great receipe for bran muffins that call for a whole box of raisin bran cereal. The uncooked batter lasts for a month in the refridgerator. Even if you don't like to cook, the photographs of the Amish and the narrative are wonderful. This book is a companion to her PBS Series.